Tail puller attachment for tufting machines



June 1964 N. B. LEVINE TAIL. FULLER ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1960 A fro/nay June 30, 1964 N. B. LEVINE TAIL. FULLER ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1960 /m/en/0/ Mmw 6. Lam/ fi June 30, 1964 N. B. LEVINE 3,138,844

TAIL FULLER ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 10, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Af/omey UnitedStates Patent 3,138,844 TAIL PULLER ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES Nathan R. Levine, Dalton, Ga, assignor t Carolyn Chenilles, lino, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 48,649

8 Claims. (Cl. 26-2) The present invention relates to a tufting machine and it particularly relates to a tufting machine for producing spaced pattern tufting elfects on relatively wide spread woven sheets.

Although not limited thereto, the present invention will be particularly described in its application to the spaced tufting of a woven fabric sheet to form bedspreads.

In the tufting of fabric sheets where groups of spaced tufts are provided, according to predetermined pattern arrangements where the tufts are spaced at varying distances particularly when formed by a row of reciprocating needles which are rendered inactive or otherwise controlled to leave gaps or spaces in the row of tufts, tails are frequently formed which although on the backside of the bed-spread or other fabric, nevertheless should be removed.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an automatic rapid machine for eliminating tails on tufted fabrics with spaced groups or arrangements of tufts which will function substantially simultaneously with the production of the fabric and which will not require excessive manual labor after tufting or special machine operations.

Another object is to provide a simple machine for removing tails from spaced fabrics through which the fabric may be fed substantially immediately after the tufting operation has been completed so that the final fabric which is produced will have a final tufting design applied thereto with the tails removed. 9

Still further-objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter will be more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, of a form of tail removing machine showing it as associated with the outlet end of a tufting machine.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken from the line 22 of FIG. 1.

. FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on A the line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the bladed roller. FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a slotted receptacle or enclosure in which the bladed roller of FIG. 4 ro- 3,138,844 Patented June 30, 1964 The pulling cylinder B and the enclosing cylinder C are also. shown respectively in FIGS. 4 and 5 removed from the assembly of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cylinder B has the end shafts 17 and a central cylindrical portion 18 which receives the obliquely disposed or spirally disposed right angular blades 19.

These blades 19 have one flange welded, riveted or otherwise attached to the face of the cylinder 18 and the other face projects radially outwardly and carries a flexible or rubber face strip 20.

The cylindrical enclosure C is larger than the cylinder B which is eccentrically disposed therein as indicated in FIG. 6.

The cylinder has an elongated slot 30 with a bevel face 31 to contact the back of the fabric as indicated in FIG. 6 and with a sharp face 32 at the other edge of the slot.

Adjacent the face 32 there will be welded or otherwise attached, the edge portion 33 of the bracket 35 which extends downwardly as indicated at 36 and is bolted at 37 to .the transversely extending angle member 38.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that some four of these brackets 35 are employed and that they have slotted lower ends 39 which receive the shank of the bolts 37.

The transverse angle member 38 carries on its upper face, a transverse blade 41 having the sharp forward edge-42.

As indicated in FIG. 6, the roller 13 being higher than the roller 12 will cause a tail 16 to contact the edge of the blade 41 and be drawn out by the roller movement. as the rubber facings 20 pass the blade 41 and draw out the tails 43 (see FIG. 6).

In FIGS. 2 and 3, it is noted that the tail pulling arrangement of FIG. 6 is mounted in the side brackets which carry the end shafts 17.

8 One end shaft 17 is driven by the pulley 56 which in turn is driven by the belt 57, the lower part 58 passing over the adjusting roller 59. j

The projecting flexible strip which projects beyond the attachment face of the blade 19 will slide over the normal tufts but will clamp the projecting tail against the oblique forward face 42 of the blade 41 creating a clamping and frictional action which will not affect the complete tufts which have been fixed in position and which will slide under the edge 42 of the blade as they are pulled down bythe movement of the fabric in the direction 14 and forwardly by the roller 13.

The roller 59 is mounted on the frame 60 which is adjustably positioned on the wall 61 by the thumb nut 62.

The rollers 12 and 13 are mounted by means of the shaft 63 and 64in the bearings 65 and 66 held on the transverse side horizontal frame structure 67.

Each roller 12 and 13 is independently driven by means of the belts 68 and 69 from the pulley 70 on the shaft 71.

The cylindrical enclosure C is suspended by means of the side brackets 72 and 73 which are mounted by bolts 74 on the structure 67.

' The table structure 67 is supported by means of the side members 75 and 76 which in turn are suspended from an upper support (not shown).

The fabric in passing to the tail puller arrangement of FIG. 6 passes over the rollers 77 and 78 on the shafts 79 and 80 and in leaving the tail puller arrangement passes vertically downwardly to the roller 81 on the shaft 82.

The arrangement shown may be readily associated with a tufting machine withoutincreasing the bulk or weight thereof and without interference of the tufting operation.

It removes the tails in spaced tufted arrangements without manual intervention and without separate machine or manual operation before the fabric is finished.

It operates at the same speed as the tufting machine and it will produce a fabric with all of the tails removed in a single machine operation.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

What is claimed is:

1. A tail puller arrangement for tufting machines to remove the tails on spaced tufted designs on a fabric which comprises a guidance system for presenting the tailed rear side of the fabric, a transverse blade having an oblique upper face and a flat lower face and positioned so that it will be slightly above the rear side of the fabric and a rotary puller having outwardly projecting spiral rubber blades for clamping said tails against said oblique upper face and for frictionally drawing them away from the fabric while clamped against said Oblique upper face.

2. A tail puller arrangement for tufting machines to remove the tails on spaced tufted designs on a fabric which comprises a guidance system for presenting the tailed rear side of the fabric, a transverse blade having an oblique upper face and a flat lower face and positioned so that it will be slightly above the rear side of the fabric and a rotary puller arrangement for pulling out said tails, said rotary puller arrangement consisting of a cylinder having a plurality of spiral blades positioned thereon with outwardly extending and projecting deformable frictionally clamping soft facings.

3. A tail puller arrangement for tufting machines to remove the tails on spaced tufted designs on a fabric which comprises a guidance system for presenting the tailed rear side of the fabric, a fixed blade to contact the rear side of said fabric and a rotary puller for pulling out said tails, said rotary puller having a outwardly extending and projecting deformable frictionally clamping blade facing and contacting the rear of said fabric and means to move said clamping blade toward and against said fixed 4 blade and thereby to pull said tails out by contact with said fixed blade.

4. A tail puller arrangement for tufting machines to remove the tails on spaced tufted designs on a fabric which comprises a guidance system for presenting the tailed rear side of the fabric and a rotary puller for pulling out said tails, a slotted cylinder for said rotary puller having a fixed blade at one side of said slot and outwardly extending and projecting deformable frictionally clamping fin members mounted on the puller to clamp said tails against said blade to remove said tails.

5. In a tail puller for application to the rear face of a fabric having interrupted rows of tufting, an elongated rotary cylindrical puller member having longitudinally extending, spirally disposed outwardly extending and projecting deformable frictionally clamping blades transverse to the surface of the cylindrical puller member, an eccentrically disposed enclosure cylinder member enclosing the puller member having an elongated window opening through which said blades are accessible, one edge of said window serving as a tangential contact edge and a plurality of guide rollers over which the fabric is passed and by which the fabric is presented to the edge, where it is acted on by said blades.

6. The puller of claim 5, said cylindrical puller member having a plurality of spirally disposed angular support members and said blades being of rubber and mounted thereon and projecting beyond the edges thereof.

7. The puller of claim 5, said fabric being elevated as it moves towards said Window edge.

8. The puller or" claim 5, said blades consisting of thin rubber projecting radially outwardly to be deformed against said window edge.

2 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,609 Weaver a- May 18, 1915 1,984,332 Boyce Dec. 11, 1934 2,171,825 Bradwell Sept. 5, 1939 2,218,123 Smith Oct. 15, 1940 2,695,438 Bejeuhr Nov. 30, 1954 2,922,214 Gilbreath Ian. 26, 1960 2,961,983 Rhodes Nov. 29, 1960 

1. A TAIL PULLER ARRANGEMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES TO REMOVE THE TAILS ON SPACED TUFTED DESIGNS ON A FABRIC WHICH COMPRISES A GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR PRESENTING THE TAILED REAR SIDE OF THE FABRIC, A TRANSVERSE BLADE HAVING AN OBLIQUE UPPER FACE AND A FLAT LOWER FACE AND POSITIONED SO THAT IT WILL BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE REAR SIDE OF THE FABRIC AND A ROTARY PULLER HAVING OUTWARDLY PROJECTING SPIRAL RUBBER BLADES FOR CLAMPING SAID TAILS AGAINST SAID OBLIQUE UPPER FACE AND FOR FRICTIONALLY DRAWING THEM AWAY FROM THE FABRIC WHILE CLAMPED AGAINST SAID OBLIQUE UPPER FACE. 